Since it opened, in 1824, the Shelbourne hotel on St. Stephen's Green has been the hub of Dublin's social scene. It even played a part in history, when, in 1922, the constitution of the newly independent Ireland was drafted in room 112. So when the hotel closed for renovations more than two years ago, the city lost one of its much-loved haunts. Now, after a complete makeover at the hands of Marriott's Renaissance Hotel group, its chandeliers are twinkling again.
There are seventy-five new guest rooms, bringing the total to 265; all are decorated with heavy silk draperies, reproduction antique furniture and feather beds with 300-thread-count sheets. Other additions include Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and a late-night watering hole, the No. 27 Bar and Lounge. Locals have drifted back to the Shelbourne for afternoon tea in the Lord Mayor's Lounge, with its plush sofas and roaring fire, or for a pint of Guinness in the tiny Horseshoe Bar, which is rumored to have seen everyone from Richard Burton to the Kennedys to hometown star Bono pass through its doors. A state-of-the-art spa, which promises to be one of the most luxurious that Dublin has ever seen, will be unveiled this winter. For this grand hotel, social prominence is guaranteed once again. Doubles from $358. 27 St. Stephen's Green; 888-236-2427; theshelbourne.ie.
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